Portugal tour escorted departures from Lisbon

Northern Portugal is the most historic part of this ancient country, where one of Europe's first states formed. Ancient towns, quaint fishing villages, venerated universities, rich monasteries, Roman remains, UNESCO World heritage Sites and lots and lots of history enhance your cultural experience in this westernmost country of Europe.

ITINERARY - Guaranteed departures on every Saturday with minimum 4 passengers

Day 1 - Lisboa/Óbidos/Alcobaça/Nazaré/Batalha/Fátima/Leiria
By a landscape rich in windmills and fruit trees we arrive to Óbidos(stop), surrounded by medieval walls where we can admire the harmony of the architecture, the diversity of the handicrafts and taste the famous ginginha (bitter cherry liqueur).Visit Alcobaça(stop) with the first and largest gothic church in Portugal with the tombs of D.Pedro and Inês de Castro, known by it’s love story. Stopping in Nazaré(stop), a typical fishing village and seaside resort, with its traditions and legends. We continue to Batalha(stop) - visit the Monastery of Santa Maria de Victoria, a masterpiece of the gothic in Portugal where we can find the tomb of Henry the Navigator, the promoter of the maritime discoveries. After we arrive to Fátima(stop), the famous Marian Shrine. Today’s journey ends in Leiria - Dinner and overnight.

Day 2 - Leiria/Conimbriga/Coimbra/Buçaco/Aveiro/Oporto
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure towards Conimbriga(stop) visiting the ruins of the ancient roman town, famous by its wonderful mosaics. Drive to Coimbra(stop) – visit of the University, one of the oldest in the world, with its magnificent baroque library and its unique atmosphere characterised by ancient traditions and customs such as the black cape of the students and the melancholic fado music. Stop at St Clara Church, where lies the tomb of Queen St. Isabel, the protagonist of the “miracle of the roses”. In the center you can admire the exclusive ceramic of Coimbra. In the afternoon we shall drive through the luxuriant forest of Buçaco(stop), area made up of a selection of rare trees and plants of exotic beauty, where was built a charming and romantic hotel, before a royal hunting lodge. Continue to Aveiro(stop), city of the canals, known as the “Portuguese Venice”, where you shall have time to see the graceful boats “moliceiros” and taste the local sweets “ovos moles”. Drive to Oporto – Dinner and overnight.

Day 3 Oporto
Porto the 2nd city of Portugal and world heritage by UNESCO - a living amphitheatre inviting us to make a morning visit to discover the riverside area, old houses, palaces, churches that history has made eternal and Port wine, known worldwide. Afternoon free.

Day 4 Oporto/Guimarães/Braga/Barcelos/Oporto
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day tour to the Minho, the northwest region of Portugal that offers natural green sceneries and the sparkling “green wine”. Starting by Guimarães(stop) - the cradle of the nation, birthplace of the first king of Portugal, where, walking along the historic center, for moments one is plunged back into medieval times. Visit the Sacred Hill, crowned by the Castle, as well the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, which original building dates back to the 15th centuries. Drive to Braga(stop) known as the "Portuguese Rome" for its concentration of religious architecture, as the oldest Cathedral of the country, and the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary with famous baroque stairway and gardens. After we shall continue to Barcelos(stop), an historical city rich in popular handicraft where the Galo de Barcelos (the rooster of Barcelos) legend was born becoming, the rooster, a Portuguese icon. Return to Porto - Dinner and overnight.

Day 5 Oporto/Amarante/Vila Real/Douro Valley/Lamego/Viseu/Urgeiriça
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Amarante(stop), a pretty town proud of São Gonçalo known for the promotion of love and marriage were the monastery facing the river houses his tomb and his lively bustling market where you can find fruit, vegetables, chickens, cloths, and an immense variety of other popular items. After, drive to Vila Real(stop) – visiting the gardens of the manor of Mateus, which façade is still depicted on the well-known Portuguese Rose wine bottles. Then we enter in the Port wine region, travelling through the vineyards and the breathtaking landscapes of the Douro Valley .Stop in Lamego(stop), overlooked by one of Portugal's most important shrines N.S. Remédios with its magnificent baroque style staircase.Maybe you will try some of the local delicacies such as the local ham or the famous “Bola de Lamego” (a loaf baked in the oven with smoked ham). Continue to the mountainous hinterland to Viseu(stop), center of the Dão Vineyards and a city connected with Portugal´s oldest hero, Viriato, the Lusitanian chief. In the shadow of the Cathedral, narrow streets and doorways with coats of arms carved in granite make up the ancient town of Viseu. Along the center we find a busy commercial area. Arrival to Urgeiriça. Dinner and overnight.

Day 6 Urgueiriça/Serra-da-Estrela/Castelo-Branco/Castelo-de-Vide/Estremoz
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the heart of Portugal, through the beauty of the Estrela Mountain Range(stop), the highest point of continental Portugal, a world of shepherds and their flocks, famous for its cheese, snows and harsh, irregular landscape, where you shall have the opportunity to admire the local handicraft (leather and woollen articles). Continue to Castelo Branco(stop), with its baroque garden and staircases of the Kings, and embroidered quilts. In the afternoon break in the beautiful Castelo de Vide(stop), an enchanting small town with the ancient Jewish Quarter with its white-washed houses. Continue to Estremoz. Dinner and overnight.

Day 7 Estremoz/Évora/Lisboa
Breakfast at the hotel. Estremoz(stop) – well known for its remarkable marble quarries and “bonecos”(figurines) of ceramic, is a beautiful town surrounded by walls with a medieval castle. Continue to Évora(stop), a living museum of tradition and history, handicrafts and gastronomy – on the walking tour we not only visit the Roman Temple, the Cathedral, Giraldo square and St Francis Church with its unique Bones Chapel, but also we can see handicraft streets, where you can find a great variety of items, such as the hand painted pottery, cork work, copper items and the colourful furniture. Évora is perfect place to taste the delicious alentejo cuisine that puts a touch of creativity and imagination into every dish, where the odours are wisely transformed into tastes completed with fruity whites and the mouth filling red wines. In the afternoon, departure towards Lisbon crossing the bridge over the Tagus river. Arrival to Lisboa.

Tour includes:

6 nights/7days first class hotel accommodation with half board
Deluxe motorcoach transportation
Services of an English speaking guide
Taxes and service charges

Price in Euro ($ rate varies depending the exchange)
Please add Euro 10 handling fee per booking!

1 November 2009- 31 March 2010
Euro 915 per person based on double or triple occupancy
Euro1113 in single room

1 April - 31October 2010:
Euro 947 per person based on double or triple occupancy
Euro 1157 in single room

Children (sharing with 2 adults) are free until 4 years old; from 5 until 10 years old have 50% reduction from the above regular price

* US$ rate varies depending on exchange rate

EXTRA NIGHTS IN LISBON BEFORE OR AFTER THE TOUR**:
PRICES IN EURO ($ RATE VARIES DEPENDING THE EXCHANGE)*

First class - Hotel Mundial or similar:
1 Nov 2009 - 31 Mar 2010 **:
Euro 50 per person per night based on double occupancy
Euro 47 per person per night based on triple occupancy
Single rate: Euro 88 per night
1 child is free (age 2-12years) sharing with 2 adults /2nd child Euro 22 per night

5Apr -30Jun/1Sep-31Oct 2010**:
Euro 63 per person per night based on double occupancy
Euro 56 per person per night based on triple occupancy
Single rate: Euro 117 per night
1 child is free (age 2-12years) sharing with 2 adults / 2nd child Euro 22 per night

1Jul-31Aug 2010 **:
Euro 57 per person per night based on double occupancy
Euro 52 per person per night based on triple occupancy
Single rate: Euro 100 per night
1 child is free (age 2-12years) sharing with 2 adults/2nd child Euro 22 per night

Standard -Miraparque or similar
1 Nov 2009 - 31 Mar 2010 **
Euro 37 per person per night based on double occupancy
Euro 31 per person per night based on triple occupancy
Single rate: Euro 60 per night
1 child is free (age 2-12years) sharing with 2 adults/2nd child Euro 19 per night

1Apr -31Oct 2010:**
Euro 50 per person per night based on double occupancy
Euro 44 per person per night based on triple occupancy
Single rate: Euro 88 per night
1 child is free (age 2-12years) sharing with 2 adults/2nd child Euro 30 per night

Transfer price from Lisbon Airport to Hotels in Lisbon or v.v: (including meet and assist at the airport luggage handling )
Euro 53 per car each way (1-3 pax)

* US$ rate varies depending on exchange rate
** During Christmas , New Years, Easter (1-5Apr) , special holidays and fairs surcharge apply!

Lisbon city package with city tour and excursions is also available! Please check our
City packages / Lisbon page!

Extra night stay at the Algarve: Please check out our
Beach Holidays/ Algarve page!

Other tours of Andalusia, Portugal are available on request or see the escorted tour page for more tour selections: Escorted Tours

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